"Metaphors." Corbie said at once. She lowered herself down until she was flat on her feet and loosened her hands. "Felix taught me that magic is metaphors."

She held out her palm and summoned a witchlight. Hers were shaped like chrysanthemums like Felix, but purple while his had been green. But this one was bigger and dimmer than her usual lights. "This is called witchlight. It's one of the first things I learned to do, after I learned how to light and extinguish a candle. This is that same basic idea, only I'm the candle and the flame at once.

"I don't have to use this metaphor, though. Some wizards think of their lights as mirrors reflecting sunlight, or lanterns..." And then the one light became three, smaller and much brighter. Corbie's face softened. Good girl. "Or stars."